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Counseling Center

Sexual Addictions

People who have a sexual addiction typically have an unusual fascination with or fixation on sex. So much so, that it takes control over the individuals thinking, making it challenging to live a well-balanced, healthy lifestyle. Behaviors can include engaging in behaviors like cybersex, pornography or phone sex and can engage in risky sexual practices.

Symptoms of a sexual addiction may include*:

Sexual impulses that are intense and feel as if they're beyond one’s control

Difficulty with consistently enforcing sexual behavior

Use of compulsive sexual behavior as an escape from other problems, such as loneliness, depression, anxiety or stress

Engaging in sexual behaviors that have serious consequences, such as the potential for getting or giving someone else a sexually transmitted infection, the loss of important relationships, trouble at work, or legal problems

Trouble establishing and maintaining emotional closeness, even if one is married or in a committed relationship